Online Stores: Dennis Uniforms (Uniform Store) BIS Houston Spirit Store (PE Uniforms and Spirit Wear) Bulldogs Online Store (Team Athletics Wear, Custom BISH Items, Custom Spirit Wear and cold weather PE.) BISH Dress Code

Why do we have a dress code?

At the British International School of Houston, we believe that our dress code helps us in creating a school identity, developing our school community, and promoting our school’s core values: Pride, Unity, and Respect.

Pride: Wearing the Nord Anglia logo or the BISH Bulldog develops pride in being a member of our school community. When out of school on trips, it provides our students with an easily recognizable identity. Additionally, it invites students to take pride in their appearance.

Unity: Provides a sense of community and unity among same-age peers.

Respect: Reduces the possibility of social conflict associated with appearance and increases students’ respect for each other’s character and abilities.

Learning: As learning is at the center of all we do at BISH, our dress code is similarly aligned. Anything that distracts oneself or others from learning is not permitted.

Why do we have Spirit Day?

Spirit Day takes place every Friday and is an extension of our regular dress code. On Spirit Days we celebrate diferent aspects of our community by wearing school Spirit wear. Spirit Day aims to bring together our students of all ages and unites the school through our “Bulldog Pride”.

Where do I purchase my child’s school wear?

Items with the British International School of Houston logo can be purchased from Dennis Uniform, located at: 2687 Wilcrest Drive #L07, Houston, TX 77042, phone (713) 789-0932 or online at: https://www.dennisuniform.com.

PE wear, school hats, and approved school outer wear (sweatshirts or quarter zips- ups), with the School’s logo on, can be purchased from the Spirit Store. Early Years Two’s Programme to Early Years 2

• Navy Bulldog logo clothing available in the Spirit Store • Red school cap – available from the Spirit Store • Blue gingham pinafore dress for girls from Dennis • Students are required to have a navy bookbag tote, also available from Dennis Uniforms, with labels for the child’s name • Nord Anglia Education logo red zip fleece jacket from Dennis • Navy bottoms – leggings, shorts, trousers, skirt or skort • Ideally, all black shoes or trainers • Waterproof jacket • Rain boots • Clothing for messy play • PE Kit • Jewelry - a simple pair of stud earrings and a watch is permitted, no other jewelry should be worn • Make up and nail varnish is not permitted • Items of clothing/accessories for religious purposes are permitted

Lower Primary: Year 1 & Year 2

• Red school cap - available from the Spirit Store • Red polo shirt – available from Dennis Uniform, must have the Nord Anglia Education logo on it. Shirts must always be tucked in • All black shoes (sneakers or leather shoes) – no color allowed, e.g. no colored soles, laces or logos • Navy shorts, trousers, knee length skirt or skort • Navy or black tights • White or black ankle length socks • Nord Anglia Education logo red zip fleece, cardigan or v-neck sweater from Dennis Uniform; alternatively, a red crew neck sweatshirt or quarter zip-up from the Spirit Store • Shoulder length hair should be tied up • Jewelry- a simple pair of stud earrings and a watch is permitted, no other jewelry should be worn • Make up/nail varnish is not permitted • Items of clothing/accessories for religious purposes are permitted Upper Primary: Year 3 - Year 6

• Red school cap - available from the Spirit Store • Light blue polo shirt – available from Dennis Uniform , must have the Nord Anglia Education logo on it. Shirts must always be tucked in • All black shoes (sneakers or leather shoes) – no color allowed, e.g. no colored soles, laces or logos • Navy shorts, trousers, knee length skirt or skort • Navy or black tights • White or black ankle length socks • Nord Anglia Education logo red zip fleece, cardigan or v-neck sweater from Dennis Uniform; alternatively, a red crew neck sweatshirt or quarter zip-up from the Spirit Store • Shoulder length hair should be tied up • Jewelry- a simple pair of stud earrings and a watch is permitted, no other jewelry should be worn • Make up/nail varnish is not permitted • Items of clothing/accessories for religious purposes are permitted

Middle and High School: Year 7 – Year 11

• Navy school cap - available from the Spirit Store • White polo shirt – available from Dennis Uniform, must have the Nord Anglia Education logo on it. Shirts must always be tucked in • All black shoes (sneakers or leather shoes) – no color allowed, e.g. no colored soles, laces or logos • Navy shorts, trousers, knee length skirt or skort • Navy or black tights • White or black ankle length socks • Nord Anglia Education logo navy zip fleece, cardigan or v-neck sweater from Dennis Uniform; alternatively, a quarter zip-up or blue crew neck sweatshirt from the Spirit Store • Items of clothing/accessories for religious purposes are permitted

Middle and High School: Year 7 – Year 9

• Jewelry- a simple pair of stud earrings and a watch is permitted, no other jewelry should be worn • Make up/nail varnish is not permitted • Students with hair longer than shoulder length must bring a hair tie to school, as they will be requested to tie it up for practical subjects/activities (PE, Sciences, DT, etc.) • All students are required to maintain their own natural hair colour and have an appropriate haircut and style

Middle and High School: Year 10 – Year 11

• Jewelry- a simple pair of stud earrings and a watch is permitted, no other jewelry should be worn • Make up – neutral/subtle make up is permitted at the discretion of the Head of Year • Nail varnish is not permitted • Students with hair longer than shoulder length must bring a hair tie to school, as they will be requested to tie it up for practical subjects/activities (PE, Sciences, DT, etc.) • All students are required to maintain their own natural hair colour and have an appropriate haircut and style Post 16: Year 12 & Year 13

Business smart attire that is appropriate for a school environment. As a senior student, you now have the privilege of choosing what you wear each day. However, you are required to follow a dress code. Please refer to the guidelines in this section and consult your form tutor if you have any questions. Dressing for PE is the same throughout all ages with sports kits available from the Spirit Store. Religious or exemption requests will be dealt with on a case by case basis.

Post 16: Year 12 & Year 13 (continued)

Male Students:

• Formal shirt with a collar, the shirt must be buttoned at the top and tucked in • A tie must be worn at all times • Formal trousers in an appropriate color • Formal, polished shoes • Swimwear - navy or black swim shorts – mid thigh with a strong waist tie; no board shorts that have pockets

Female Students:

• Formal shirt or blouse • A skirt or dress with a hemline no higher than knee length, with a reasonable split (i.e. no more than 5 inches in length) • Floor length and short skirts are not permitted • Formal trousers in an appropriate colour • Formal, polished shoes; heels are allowed, but cannot be higher than 3 inches • Make up, nail polish, and jewelry are permitted, but must be subtle; ear piercings are permitted • Swimwear - navy or black swim suit – no bikinis; for modesty or religious reasons, girls may wear their swimming suit with swim shorts over the top Post 16: Year 12 & Year 13 (continued)

What is not permitted:

• Transparent fabrics of any kind • Low cut or excessively tight blouses or shirts, or thin strapped tops • Jeans or any other smart casual style trousers • Shoes with an open or steel toe • Tattoos, facial or body piercings • Headphones outside of private study periods • Outer garments with slogans, or athletic wear when not in PE • Any unnatural hair colors or extreme hairstyles What to wear on Spirit Days…

• Every Friday we will celebrate and promote school spirit with a Spirit Day. This builds on our school values of Pride, Unity, and Respect and allows us to celebrate being part of the BISH community. • On these days, anything bought from the Spirit Store or is associated with the school e.g. Global Games, school trips, school sports teams…can be worn provided it has the Bulldog and/or the Nord Anglia Education logo, along with school appropriate bottoms (smart jeans, chinos, knee length skirts, etc.). • The spirit wear must be seen. Students are not allowed to wear other items on top of Spirit wear. • Hoodies can be worn, but for safety reasons cannot be worn on the play areas or spider web. • If you do not wear Spirit clothing, regular school dress code must be followed.

Physical Education

• The PE Uniform consists of the following: • Shirts • Short sleeve grey PE shirt (available in the Spirit Store) • Long sleeve navy blue PE shirt (available online at the cold weather store) • Bottoms • Navy blue shorts (available in the Spirit Store or any navy blue shorts) • Joggers (available online at the cold weather store) • Non-marking sole trainers appropriate for the activity (any color and these may be purchased from other vendors) • Please no Spirit Wear to substitute for PE uniform.

Swimming

• Girls should wear a navy or black swim suit - no bikinis; for modesty or religious reasons, girls may wear their swimming suit with swim shorts over the top • Boys should wear navy or black swim shorts, mid thigh, with a strong waist tie; no board shorts with pockets • Swim hat, in any colour, for students who have hair past their ears, (also available in the Spirit Store) • Swimming goggles, in any colour • Towel • Water Bottle • Toiletries for showering

Contact us British International School of Houston 2203 N. Westgreen Blvd. Katy, Texas, TX 77449 United States Email [email protected] School Website www.bishouston.org General Enquiries +1 713 290 9025